EPC-based NSA Basics (SRAN20.1 - 01)
EPC-based NSA Basics (SRAN20.1 - 01)
Issue 01
Date 2024-03-09
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Contents
1 Change History.........................................................................................................................1
2 About This Document.............................................................................................................6
2.1 General Statements................................................................................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Applicable RAT......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Features in This Document.................................................................................................................................................. 7
3 Overview....................................................................................................................................9
3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Related Concepts..................................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Architecture............................................................................................................................................................................. 11
3.4 EN-DC Band Combinations............................................................................................................................................... 13
5 Parameters............................................................................................................................163
6 Counters................................................................................................................................ 165
7 Glossary................................................................................................................................. 166
8 Reference Documents........................................................................................................ 167
1 Change History
SRAN20.1 01 (2024-03-09)
This issue includes the following changes.
● Technical changes
None
● Editorial changes
– Revised the descriptions of some impacted functions. For details, see
4.2.2 Impacts.
– Added the mutually exclusive relationship of collaboration between
ROHC and NR PDCP with the NSA DC capability switch. For details, see
4.3.2 Software.
– Revised the MML command examples related to data split on the
gNodeB side. For details, see 4.4.2.2 Using MML Commands.
– Revised descriptions in this document.
● Editorial changes
– Added the mutually exclusive relationship between TDM and ultra-low-
latency scheduling for inter-eNodeB CA based on relaxed backhaul. For
details, see 4.3.2 Software.
– Revised descriptions in this document.
● Editorial changes
– Reorganized this document and reworded the information.
Split NSA Networking based on EPC into EPC-based NSA Basics, EPC-
based NSA Performance Enhancement, and EPC-based NSA Experience
Improvement. This document focuses on EPC-based NSA basics.
– Revised the names of some mutually exclusive functions to be consistent
with those in reference documents. For details, see 4.3.2 Software.
This document only provides guidance for feature activation. Feature deployment and
feature gains depend on the specifics of the network scenario where the feature is
deployed. To achieve optimal gains, contact Huawei professional service engineers.
Functions mentioned in this document work properly only when enabled in the
specified applicable scenarios (such as RAT and networking). If a function not
mentioned in this document is enabled or a function is enabled in a scenario not
specified as applicable, exceptions or other impacts may occur.
Software Interfaces
Any parameters, alarms, counters, or managed objects (MOs) described in Feature
Parameter Description documents apply only to the corresponding software
release. For future software releases, refer to the corresponding updated product
documentation.
Trial Features
Trial features are features that are not yet ready for full commercial release for
certain reasons. For example, the industry chain (terminals/CN) may not be
sufficiently compatible. However, these features can still be used for testing
purposes or commercial network trials. Anyone who desires to use the trial
features shall contact Huawei and enter into a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with Huawei prior to an official application of such trial features. Trial
features are not for sale in the current version but customers may try them for
free.
Customers acknowledge and undertake that trial features may have a certain
degree of risk due to absence of commercial testing. Before using them, customers
shall fully understand not only the expected benefits of such trial features but also
the possible impact they may exert on the network. In addition, customers
acknowledge and undertake that since trial features are free, Huawei is not liable
for any trial feature malfunctions or any losses incurred by using the trial features.
Huawei does not promise that problems with trial features will be resolved in the
current version. Huawei reserves the rights to convert trial features into
commercial features in later R/C versions. If trial features are converted into
commercial features in a later version, customers shall pay a licensing fee to
obtain the relevant licenses prior to using the said commercial features. If a
customer fails to purchase such a license, the trial feature(s) will be invalidated
automatically when the product is upgraded.
3 Overview
3.1 Introduction
In non-standalone (NSA) networking based on evolved packet core (EPC), UEs
that support NSA dual connectivity (DC) can connect to both an LTE eNodeB
and a New Radio (NR) gNodeB and use radio resources provided by these
base stations for data transmission. Data can be split between the two base
stations. DC can be implemented after component carriers (CCs) are
aggregated separately on the eNodeB and gNodeB sides, as shown in Figure
3-1.
Cell MCG The master cell group (MCG) of the NSA UE is an LTE cell
grou group configured on the LTE side. In Figure 3-2, cells 1 and 3
p form the MCG.
Cell PCell The primary cell (PCell) of the NSA UE is a cell that is served
by the MeNB and that the UE is camping on. In Figure 3-2, cell
1 is the PCell.
PSCell The primary SCG cell (PSCell) of the NSA UE is a primary cell
that is served by the SgNB and configured for the UE through
an RRC message sent by the MeNB. The PSCell stays active
once it is configured successfully. In Figure 3-2, cell 2 is the
PSCell.
Carri CC CCs are the carriers that are aggregated for the UE.
er
PCC The primary component carrier (PCC) is the carrier of the PCell.
In Figure 3-2, the carrier of cell 1 is the PCC.
Event Event The signal quality of the serving cell becomes higher than a
A1 threshold.
Event The signal quality of the serving cell becomes lower than a
A2 threshold.
Event The signal quality of the serving cell becomes lower than
A5 threshold 1, while the signal quality of a neighboring cell
becomes higher than threshold 2.
3.3 Architecture
NSA networking based on EPC can be deployed in areas where LTE coverage
and NR coverage overlap. The current version supports two network
architectures: Option 3 and Option 3x. The specific network architecture
depends on how the eNodeB, gNodeB, and EPC are interconnected.
● In Option 3x, data split is performed on the SgNB. The supported bearers
include SCG split bearer and SN-terminated MCG bearer.
– SCG split bearer: indicating that user-plane data is split at the PDCP layer
of the SgNB, distributed to the RLC layers of the MeNB and SgNB, as
shown in Figure 3-5, and then aggregated at the PDCP layer of the UE.
Table 3-3 Sources and descriptions of the bandEUTRA and bandNR values
Field Value When Sourced from When Sourced from
Frequencies Configured Independently
on the eNodeB Configured Bands
If the OperatorBand MOs have been configured, the final sources of the
bandEUTRA and bandNR values are illustrated in Figure 3-7.
can be used to specify bands only for whitelisted UEs. If this option is deselected,
OperatorBand MOs can be used to specify bands for all UEs. If both this option
and the CaBandCombQueryOptSwitch option of the
GlobalProcSwitch.ProtocolMsgOptSwitch parameter are selected, the eNodeB
cannot identify whether a UE is whitelisted when the UE performs initial access
and the core network does not deliver E-UTRAN capability information. Therefore,
the eNodeB considers that the UE is not whitelisted, and does not specify bands
for it using the OperatorBand MOs.
NOTE
NSA networking based on EPC can implement basic functions such as carrier
management, data split, uplink power control, and interference avoidance in
NSA DC.
NSA networking based on EPC is controlled by the NSA_DC_CAPABILITY_SWITCH
option of the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter on the eNodeB
side and by the NRCellAlgoSwitch.NsaDcSwitch parameter on the gNodeB side.
It takes effect when both of the switches are turned on.
4.1 Principles
SCell Activation
The eNodeB triggers LTE SCell activation based on events or at intervals when an
NSA UE is in a specific state and certain conditions are met.
● If the NSA UE is not in the NSA DC state, all the following conditions must be
met:
– Data volume buffered at the RLC layer > max (Uu data rate at the RLC
layer x CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferDelayThd,
CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferLenThd)
– First packet delay at the RLC layer > CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferDelayThd
In this scenario, the interval for triggering periodic LTE SCell activation is
specified by the CaMgtCfg.SccCfgInterval parameter.
● If the NSA UE is in the NSA DC state, all the following conditions must be
met:
– Data volume buffered at the RLC layer > max (Uu data rate at the RLC
layer x NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld,
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrLenThld)
– First packet delay at the RLC layer >
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld
In this scenario, the interval for triggering periodic LTE SCell activation is
specified by the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellConfigIntvl parameter.
The duration of a single round of LTE SCell measurement is specified by the
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellMeasDuration parameter.
SCC Removal
It is possible that SCCs cannot be added together with an SCG for an NSA UE with
compatibility issues. For such an NSA UE, the NSA_CA_FORBID_SW option of the
UeCompat.BlacklistControlExtSwitch2 parameter can be used to specify whether
to enable blacklist control for SCC management in NSA networking. If this option
is selected and the NSA UE is in the corresponding blacklist, all configured SCCs
must be removed when an SCG is added for this UE, and no SCCs can be added
after an SCG is added and before the SCG is released.
If this option is deselected or the NSA UE is not in the corresponding blacklist, the
SCC removal policy depends on the setting of the
SCC_RMV_AFT_SCG_ADD_OPT_SW option of the
NsaDcAlgoParam.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter when an SCG is added for this
UE.
● Assume that the option is deselected. If the combination of LTE CA bands and
NR bands does not support NSA DC, LTE CA SCCs need to be removed;
otherwise, SCG addition is triggered directly. If SCCs need to be removed, the
base station checks whether intelligent selection of serving cell combinations
has taken effect. If this function has taken effect, all LTE CA SCCs are removed
and an SCG is added; after the addition, SCCs in the selected EN-DC
combination are added (if not added yet). For details about intelligent
selection of serving cell combinations, see Carrier Aggregation in eRAN
feature documentation. If intelligent selection of serving cell combinations has
not taken effect, SCCs not belonging to the selected EN-DC combination are
removed and an SCG is added; after the addition, SCCs in the selected EN-DC
combination are added (if not added yet). Figure 4-1 shows the procedure.
● Assume that the option is selected. If the combination of LTE CA bands and
NR bands does not support NSA DC, LTE CA SCCs need to be removed;
otherwise, SCG addition is triggered directly. If SCCs need to be removed, the
base station follows the principle that the LTE CA combination in the currently
supported EN-DC combination is the optimal combination. Based on this
principle, SCCs are removed, and then SCCs in the selected EN-DC
combination are added (if not added yet).
NOTE
During SCC removal, the base station does not consider whether the LTE CA combination in
the currently supported EN-DC combination is the optimal combination. After an SCG is
added for an NSA UE, the selected LTE CA combination may not be the optimal one,
affecting user experience.
If the NSA UE is not in the EN-DC state, uplink 2CC aggregation is performed as
described in Carrier Aggregation in eRAN feature documentation.
If the NSA UE is in the EN-DC state, the following functions are supported:
● Uplink SCC addition
– Triggered based on events, including SCG addition, change, and removal
– Triggered at intervals and based on data volume
▪ If the NSA UE in the EN-DC state has no data split bearer, all the
following conditions must be met:
○ Data volume buffered at the RLC layer > max (Uu data rate at
the RLC layer x CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferDelayThd,
CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferLenThd)
○ First packet delay at the RLC layer >
CaMgtCfg.ActiveBufferDelayThd
The interval is specified by the CaMgtCfg.SccCfgInterval parameter.
▪ If the NSA UE in the EN-DC state has a data split bearer, all the
following conditions must be met:
○ Data volume buffered at the RLC layer > max (Uu data rate at
the RLC layer x
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld,
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrLenThld)
○ First packet delay at the RLC layer >
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld
The interval is specified by the
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellConfigIntvl parameter. The
duration of a single round of LTE SCell measurement is specified by
the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellMeasDuration parameter.
● Uplink SCC removal
– This function is the same as uplink 2CC aggregation in LTE. For details,
see Carrier Aggregation in eRAN feature documentation.
– If the EN-DC band combinations supported by the UE cannot be used for
uplink CA and the configuration of uplink CA has been completed for the
UE, the uplink SCC will be released after the SCG is added again.
● Uplink SCC activation, which requires that all of the following conditions be
met:
– Data volume buffered at the RLC layer > max (Uu data rate at the RLC
layer x NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld,
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrLenThld)
– First packet delay at the RLC layer >
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcLteScellActBfrDelThld
● Uplink SCC deactivation, which requires that all of the following conditions be
met:
– Buffered data volume in the BSR reported by the NSA UE ≤
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaLteSCellDeactBfrLenThld
– Uplink Uu data rate on the NSA UE at the RLC layer ≤
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaLteSCellDeactThptThld
The NSA_LTE_UL_CA_SW option of the UeCompat.BlacklistControlExtSwitch1
parameter can be used to disable this function for defective UEs. The
NSA_LTE_UL_CA_DIFF_DPS_SW option of the
UeCompat.BlacklistControlExtSwitch2 parameter can be used to prohibit UEs
from occupying all power on their LTE side if the UEs have no power reserved on
their NR side.
Uplink CA in EN-DC depends on uplink LTE CA and therefore requires that the
following uplink CA functions be enabled:
● Uplink 2CC aggregation: controlled by the CaUl2CCSwitch option of the
CaMgtCfg.CellCaAlgoSwitch parameter
● Inter-eNodeB CA based on relaxed backhaul: controlled by the
RelaxedBackhaulCaSwitch option of the ENodeBAlgoSwitch.CaAlgoSwitch
parameter
● Inter-eNodeB CA based on eNodeB coordination: controlled by the
FreqCfgCaOverBBUsSwitch option of the
ENodeBAlgoSwitch.OverBBUsSwitch parameter
The following NSA functions take effect preferentially if they are enabled together
with uplink CA in EN-DC:
● TDM power control
● Uplink single-side transmission (trial)
● Interference avoidance in NSA DC
NOTE
– There are QCIs that are supported by the MCG split bearer or SCG split
bearer. For the relationships between QCIs and bearers, see 4.1.2 Data
Split in NSA DC.
– The UE is not running any emergency call.
– If the UE has VoLTE services:
NOTE
NOTE
● When the MeNB triggers SCG addition, it performs flow control based on its CPU usage.
That is, the MeNB limits the probability of SCG addition to prevent the CPU from being
overloaded. The NSA flow control policy is specified by the
eNodeBFlowCtrlPara.NsaFlowCtrlStrategy parameter. When the CPU usage reaches or
exceeds 80%, flow control is performed.
● When the CPU usage reaches 80%, the MeNB starts to limit the probability of SCG
addition. When the CPU usage is 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, or 84%, the probability of
SCG addition is 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, or 10%, respectively.
● When the CPU usage reaches or exceeds 85%, the MeNB does not add any SCG,
except for VIP users.
● When the CPU usage falls below 80% but reaches or exceeds 70%, the probability
of SCG addition is 95%.
● When the CPU usage falls below 70%, flow control is not performed.
● The NSA_NR_SINGLE_BC_PREFER_SW option of the
EnodebAlgoExtSwitch.MultiNetworkingOptionOptSw parameter specifies whether to
enable the preferential selection of a band combination with only one NR carrier for
NSA UEs function. If this option is selected, a band combination that involves only one
NR carrier is preferentially selected for SCG addition. This function can take effect only
for whitelisted UEs if the NSA_NR_SINGLE_BC_PREFER_SW option of the
UeCompat.WhitelistCtrlExtSwitch1 parameter is selected.
In NSA and SA hybrid networking, the MeNB filters out the SCG frequencies
serving the neighboring NR cells only in SA networking based on the setting of the
NrExternalCell.NrNetworkingOption or
NrExternalCellPlmn.NrNetworkingOption parameter. In this scenario, it is
recommended that the UPT_NR_EXT_CELL_NW_OPT_CFG_SW option of the
GlobalProcSwitch.X2BasedUptNcellCfgSwitch parameter be selected so that the
value of NrExternalCell.NrNetworkingOption can be automatically updated
based on received X2 messages, without the need for manual configuration.
On the LTE side, the NrScgFreqConfig.ForbiddenSpidGrpId parameter can be
used to specify an SPID group for which a specified SCG frequency cannot be
added as the frequency of an NR SCC. The NrScgFreqConfig.ForbiddenSpidGrpId
parameter setting takes effect only when NR SCCs are added for UEs. If NR SCCs
have been added, the setting does not take effect. As the same NR frequency can
be configured in the NrScgFreqConfig MOs of different PCCs, the same
NrScgFreqConfig.ForbiddenSpidGrpId parameter setting is recommended for this
NR frequency.
If the NR_B1_NO_GAP_SW option of the
EnodeBAlgoExtSwitch.MultiNetworkingOptionOptSw parameter is selected and
a UE reports that it supports non-gap-assisted measurement of an NR frequency,
the eNodeB does not include gap configurations when it delivers B1 measurement
configurations for this frequency to the UE.
NOTE
to trigger for NR B1 is shorter than that for NSA DC B1, adjustment to the same
value is not required.
If multiple QCIs exist, the MeNB selects the B1 threshold configured for the QCI
with the highest priority (specified by CellQciPara.QciPriorityForHo)
corresponding to the data split bearer when delivering B1 measurement
configurations for SCG addition to the UE.
▪ It filters out NR cells that do not support the uplink mode when the
NR_SCG_UL_NO_CHECK_SW option of the
NsaDcAlgoParam.NsaDcAlgoExtSwitch parameter is deselected.
PSCell Addition
1. The MeNB sends an SgNB Addition Request message to the target SgNB.
For the first UE that initiates NSA DC, the NR neighbor relationship needs to
be added or the EN-DC X2 interface needs to be automatically set up, which
requires a longer time than manual configuration. For this UE, PSCell addition
can be implemented only after multiple B1 measurements are performed.
– If the NR neighbor relationship is not added or the EN-DC X2 interface is
not set up, two B1 measurements need to be performed. The first
measurement is used to add the NR neighbor relationship or set up the
X2 interface, and the second is used to add the PSCell.
– If neither the NR neighbor relationship is added nor the EN-DC X2
interface is set up, three B1 measurements need to be performed. The
first measurement is used to add the NR neighbor relationship, the
second is used to set up the X2 interface, and the third is used to add the
PSCell.
In other scenarios where the NR neighbor relationship has been added and
the EN-DC X2 interface has been automatically set up, only one B1
measurement needs to be triggered for an NSA UE to add the PSCell. For
details about automatic neighboring cell addition, see ANR Management in
eRAN feature documentation. For details about EN-DC X2 self-setup, see X2
and S1 Self-Management in NSA Networking.
2. The gNodeB selects the NR cell with the highest signal quality from the
candidateCellInfoListMN IE in the SgNB Addition Request message as the
PSCell. Then, the gNodeB sends an SgNB Addition Ack message to the MeNB,
indicating that the SgNB is successfully added.
If the MeasResult2NR IE in the SgNB Addition Request message does not
contain a cell that meets the conditions for PSCell addition, the gNodeB sends
an SgNB Addition Reject message to notify the MeNB that the SgNB addition
fails.
– Assume that the SINR of the VoLTE UE is less than the value of
NsaDcMgmtConfig.UlQualityThldForScgRelease or the uplink or
downlink packet loss rate of QCI 1 is greater than the value of
NsaDcMgmtConfig.VoltePlrThldForScgRelease. Then, if an SgNB exists,
the eNodeB immediately releases it; if no SgNB exists, no SgNB addition
is triggered before the VoLTE service is released. If the
NSA_DC_VOLUME_BASED_SCG_ADD_SW option of the
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter is deselected, the
eNodeB will trigger an SgNB addition immediately after the VoLTE service
is released.
– Assume that the SINR of the VoLTE UE is greater than or equal to the
value of NsaDcMgmtConfig.UlQualityThldForScgRelease and the
uplink or downlink packet loss rate of QCI 1 is less than or equal to the
value of NsaDcMgmtConfig.VoltePlrThldForScgRelease. Then, if an
SgNB exists, the eNodeB does not release it; if no SgNB exists, an SgNB
addition can be triggered. The VOLTE_NSA_DC_IF_NR_MEAS_SW option
of the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter can be used to
control whether to deliver NR B1 measurement configurations to the UE
when SgNB addition is triggered. If this option is deselected, no NR B1
measurement configurations are delivered to the UE and no SgNB is
added, preventing the impact on VoLTE services. If this option is selected,
NR B1 measurement configurations are delivered for SgNB addition.
NOTE
After the UE is handed over to a cell, the base station determines whether to add
an SgNB or delete the SgNB if it has been added, based on the SINR
measurement result or the uplink or downlink packet loss rate of QCI 1 in this
cell.
● If the NsaDcMgmtConfig.VolteUeScgMgmtStrategy parameter is set to
VOLTE_SCG_COEXISTENCE, the eNodeB does not process VoLTE services as it
does in the preceding two modes.
For VoLTE services, when NsaDcMgmtConfig.VolteUeScgMgmtStrategy is
set to VOLTE_SCG_COEXISTENCE, the VOLTE_NSA_DC_IF_NR_MEAS_SW
option of the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter can be used
to control whether to deliver NR B1 measurement configurations to the UE. If
this option is deselected, no NR B1 measurement configurations are delivered
to the UE, and an SgNB is directly added in the case that blind SCG addition is
in effect, preventing the impact on VoLTE services. If this option is selected,
NR B1 measurement configurations are delivered for SgNB addition.
NOTE
If only two or fewer SSB positions are contained in one gap period, SSB positions may
conflict with the positions of other resources such as PUCCH, SRS, and DRX resources, and
even may be unavailable in the gap period. As a result, it is possible that a UE fails to start
gap-assisted measurements on NR frequencies and the MeNB sends an SgNB Modification
Refuse message to the SgNB. To address this issue, the GAP_OFS_ASSIGNMENT_OPT_SW
option of the NsaDcAlgoParam.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter can be selected to reduce the
conflicts between SSB positions and other resources' positions.
SMTC Period
The NrNFreq.SsbPeriod parameter must be set to the same value as the
NRDUCell.SsbPeriod parameter. If multiple neighboring NR cells work on the
same NR frequency and have different SSB periods, it is recommended that the
LTE side use the maximum SSB period as the SMTC period for NR frequency
measurement.
SSB Offset
An SSB offset is specified by the LTE parameter NrNFreq.SsbOffset. This
parameter can be set in two scenarios: LTE time synchronization and LTE
frequency synchronization. The LST CLKSYNCMODE command can be executed to
query the clock synchronization mode of a base station.
The accuracy requirement on virtual grid models can be configured using the
LnrCarrierSelection.VgMdlPredNrScgMeasRsrpThld parameter. If LNR virtual
grid models for predicting the RSRP of a neighboring NR frequency are available
and the accuracy of the models meets requirements, the eNodeB performs the
following operations:
prediction result meets the leaving condition of event B1, the eNodeB does
not deliver measurement configurations for the neighboring NR frequency.
The VG_SCG_ADD_MEAS_AND_PUNISH_SW option of the
LnrCarrierSelection.LnrCarrierSelectionSw parameter specifies whether to
enable measurement and penalty for SCG addition based on virtual grids. If
this option is selected, after the eNodeB instructs a UE to add an SCG, it
performs the following operations upon reception of a UE-reported
SCGFailureInformationNR message based on which the eNodeB determines
that the SCG addition using the virtual-grid-model-based prediction result
fails:
– The eNodeB immediately triggers an SCG addition procedure based on
event B1 measurement.
– The eNodeB imposes a penalty on the UE. With this penalty, when the
virtual-grid-model-based prediction result meets the entering condition
of event B1 in subsequent procedure of PSCell addition based on virtual
grid models, SCG addition based on event B1 measurement is triggered
for this UE.
If this option is deselected, the eNodeB does not trigger an SCG addition
procedure based on B1 measurement or impose a penalty on the UE.
● Measurement-based PSCell configuration: Assume that the
LnrCarrierSelection.VgMdlPredNrScgMeasRsrpThld parameter is set to
ACCURACY100_ENH. When the virtual-grid-model-based prediction result
about the neighboring NR frequency meets the leaving condition of event B1,
the eNodeB does not deliver B1 measurement configurations for the
neighboring NR frequency. When the prediction result meets the entering
condition of event B1, the eNodeB delivers the B1 measurement
configurations. After the UE reports B1 measurement results, the eNodeB
instructs the UE to add an SCG. For details about MeNB-initiated SgNB
addition, see NSA Mobility Management.
PSCell addition based on virtual grid models is not recommended in certain
scenarios.
● In high-speed mobility scenarios such as high-speed railway dedicated
networks, it is recommended that this function be disabled. This is to prevent
network performance deterioration because of inaccurate NR coverage
evaluation due to fast UE movement.
● During key event assurance, it is recommended that this function be disabled.
This is to prevent network performance deterioration as the function increases
the CPU usage and the number of SRBs.
● During long-term network reconstruction, it is recommended that this
function be disabled or the accuracy required for SCG addition based on
virtual grid models be set to 100% (that is, the
LnrCarrierSelection.VgMdlPredNrScgMeasRsrpThld parameter be set to
ACCURACY100_OFFSET0). This is to prevent network performance
deterioration caused by low accuracy.
If both SPID-specific and QCI-specific NSA PCC anchoring policies are configured for a
downlink frequency, the SPID-specific NSA PCC anchoring policy preferentially takes effect.
NOTE
If both SPID-specific and QCI-specific PSCell management policies are configured for a
downlink frequency, the SPID-specific PSCell management policy preferentially takes effect.
Configuration Requirements
For different cells (specified by CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.LocalCellId) in a multi-
carrier configuration group (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.MultiCarrCfgGroupId), if their downlink frequency numbers
(specified by CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.DlArfcn), operator IDs (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.CnOperatorId), and RAT types (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.RatType) are identical, then the following parameters must
also have the same settings for these cells. Otherwise, ping-pong handovers occur.
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NsaPccAnchoringPriority
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NrScgPriorityOffset
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NsaDcB1RsrpThldOffset
NOTE
Parameter ID Description
Parameter ID Description
NOTE
If both SPID-specific and QCI-specific NSA PCC anchoring policies are configured for a
downlink frequency, the SPID-specific NSA PCC anchoring policy preferentially takes effect.
After the SCG frequencies are configured, the eNodeB delivers measurement
configurations of these frequencies to the NSA UE. For each of these frequencies,
if the RSRP value measured by the NSA UE is greater than the B1 RSRP threshold,
the UE will report the B1 measurement result. The B1 RSRP threshold is calculated
as follows:
B1 RSRP threshold = A + B + C + D + E
● A: NrScgFreqConfig.NsaDcB1ThldRsrp
● B: CellOp.NsaDcB1RsrpThldOffset
● C: NsaDcQciParamGroup.NsaDcB1RsrpThldOffset
● D: SpidCfg.NsaDcSpidB1RsrpThldOffset
● E: NrNFreq.FreqSpecificOffset
NOTE
If both SPID-specific and QCI-specific PSCell management policies are configured for a
downlink frequency, the SPID-specific PSCell management policy preferentially takes effect.
Configuration Requirements
For different cells (specified by CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.LocalCellId) in a multi-
carrier configuration group (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.MultiCarrCfgGroupId), if their downlink frequency numbers
(specified by CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.DlArfcn), operator IDs (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.CnOperatorId), and RAT types (specified by
CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.RatType) are identical, then the following parameters must
also have the same settings for these cells. Otherwise, ping-pong handovers occur.
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NsaPccAnchoringPriority
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NrScgPriorityOffset
● CellMultiCarrCfgGrp.NsaDcB1RsrpThldOffset
NOTE
set up. The data split architecture can be configured based on the service type
by specifying a bearer type, and then the uplink and downlink data split
modes can be configured.
In this version, all types of services, except the following, are supported by the
MCG bearer, MCG_Bearer_EUTRA_PDCP, MCG split bearer, and SCG split bearer:
● Voice services that use the ROHC function: supported only by the
MCG_Bearer_EUTRA_PDCP.
● E-RABs with QCIs of 1 or 5: supported only by the MCG bearer and
MCG_Bearer_EUTRA_PDCP.
● E-RABs with QCIs of 2–4, 65–67, 75, or 82–85: supported only by the MCG
bearer, MCG_Bearer_EUTRA_PDCP, and SCG split bearer. In the case of SCG
split bearer, the uplink and downlink data is distributed only to the SCG.
● For details about the processing of extended QCIs, see QoS Management in
5G RAN feature documentation.
NOTE
NOTE
● To ensure the consistency of user experience with services that have the same QCI
between eNodeBs, it is recommended that the same bearer mode be set on these
eNodeBs for the same QCI.
● When the value of the CellQciPara.NsaDcDefaultBearerMode parameter changes, the
data volume allocated to the LTE or NR side may change significantly due to the change
of the bearer mode.
NOTE
whether to add an offset to the SNs of packets sent to the low-speed side. If
this option is selected, the PDCP SN offset is used. In this case, data is
preferentially distributed to high-speed side between LTE and NR. In this case,
downlink traffic volume of the high-speed side increases and that of the other
side decreases. If this option is deselected, the PDCP SN offset is not used.
On the NR side, the NRCellOpQciBearer.AmPdcpParamGroupId or
NRCellOpQciBearer.UmPdcpParamGroupId parameter can be associated with
the gNBPdcpParamGroup.PdcpParamGroupId parameter to configure operator-
specific downlink data split policies.
● If the NRCellOpQciBearer.AmPdcpParamGroupId or
NRCellOpQciBearer.UmPdcpParamGroupId parameter is set to a value in
the range of 0 to 9, the downlink data split policy for the operator is
determined by the gNBPdcpParamGroup.DlDataPdcpSplitMode parameter
corresponding to the associated gNBPdcpParamGroup.PdcpParamGroupId
parameter.
● If the NRCellOpQciBearer MO is not configured, the downlink data split
policies for all operators are determined by the
gNBPdcpParamGroup.PdcpParamGroupId parameter.
In Option 3x (not in Option 3) networking, downlink real-time data split can take
effect to fully utilize the data transmission capabilities of LTE and NR air interfaces
and improve user experience when all the following options are selected:
The real-time data split function shortens the reporting period of RLC transmission
capability information by exchanging messages between the RLC and PDCP layers
in real time. In this way, the PDCP layer can deliver data in a timely manner,
reducing air interface resource waste. This function estimates the transmission rate
based on the MAC scheduling capability in service interruption scenarios,
improving the data split accuracy.
Dynamic data split is stopped at the PDCP layer in certain scenarios and this
penalty lasts for a period of time, as listed in Table 4-3.
Table 4-3 Data split stop scenarios and penalty period parameters
If downlink data split is stopped when data rates differ considerably between LTE
and NR sides or data congestion occurs because the air interface on one side is
abnormal, downlink data split can be resumed when the PDCP detects that the air
interface condition becomes better. This function takes effect only if it is enabled
as follows:
● In NSA DC, an IP performance monitoring (IP PM) session is automatically created over
the X2 interface. The X2 interface status information required by PDCP data split is
obtained through the IP PM session.
● If the downlink data split mode needs to be set to SCG_AND_MCG, it is recommended
that IP PM be configured in advance for X2 delay observation.
● If the number of IP PM sessions to be set up exceeds the limit, IP PM sessions fail to be
set up and the PDCP layer cannot obtain X2 delay information. In this case, data split
performance deteriorates.
When data split is stopped due to data congestion caused by an air interface
exception on one side, the PDCP migrates data from the congested side to the
other side for delay-based retransmission if the
NSA_RETRANS_BASED_ON_DELAY_SW option of the
gNodeBParam.NsaDcOptSwitch parameter is selected.
● If the primary path for uplink data split is on the SCG side, the PDCP migrates
data packets that fall into the LTE sleep time to the NR side for
retransmission, stops data split on the LTE side, and resumes data split in the
active time. For details about the sleep time and active time, see DRX and
Signaling Control in eRAN feature documentation and DRX in 5G RAN feature
documentation.
● If the primary path for uplink data split is on the MCG side, the PDCP
migrates data packets that fall into the NR sleep time to the LTE side for
retransmission, stops data split on the NR side, and resumes data split in the
active time. For details about the sleep time and active time, see DRX and
Signaling Control in eRAN feature documentation and DRX in 5G RAN feature
documentation.
NOTE
In DRX scenarios, it is recommended that NSA downlink data split optimization be enabled
together with NSA uplink preallocation so that LTE and NR are in active time if possible
when there are services.
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE
● Data migration is not triggered in the following situations: the RLC transmission mode is
UM or TM, the X2 one-way delay is greater than or equal to 10 ms, the CPU usage is
greater than 70%, the PDCP SN length is not 18 bits, the downlink data split mode is
MCG only or SCG only, and the downlink data split bearer type is SRB.
● Fast retransmission for downlink data split is mutually exclusive with the PDCP SN offset
function. The SN offset function takes effect preferentially.
● When packet loss occurs on the X2 link, if data split is performed on the LTE side, data is
not migrated from the LTE side to the NR side; if data split is performed on the NR side,
data is not migrated from the NR side to the LTE side.
the cell is likely to be congested. In this case, the user experience of non-NSA non-
CA UEs in the cell deteriorates.
This function controls downlink data split of NSA DC and CA based on the CCE
usage of the PCell. It alleviates cell congestion by degrading the user experience of
NSA DC and CA UEs and improves the user experience of non-NSA non-CA UEs in
the cell. It is recommended that this function be enabled when the downlink data
split mode is set to SCG_ONLY or SCG_AND_MCG.
This function takes effect only in LTE FDD cells with a bandwidth less than or
equal to 5 MHz. It is controlled by the
CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageHighThld parameter. Table 4-4 lists the
configured values and effective values of CCE usage threshold parameters for data
split.
Table 4-4 Configured values and effective values of CCE usage threshold
parameters for data split
Parameter Configured Effective Value
Value
The eNodeB determines whether the PCell of NSA DC is congested based on the
measured and filtered CCE usage of the PCell.
The CCE usage of the PCell of an NSA UE is calculated as follows:
CCE usage = max((L.ChMeas.CCE.ULUsed.Equivalent +
L.ChMeas.CCE.DLUsed.Equivalent) / L.ChMeas.CCE.AvailPower.Equivalent x
100%, (L.ChMeas.CCE.CommUsed + L.ChMeas.CCE.ULUsed +
L.ChMeas.CCE.DLUsed) / L.ChMeas.CCE.Avail x 100%)
The calculated CCE usage is then filtered and compared with the values of
CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageHighThld and
CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageLowThld to determine whether the PCell is
congested.
● If the CCE usage of the PCell of NSA DC is greater than the effective value of
CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageHighThld, the PCell is congested.
● If the CCE usage of the PCell of NSA DC is less than or equal to the effective
value of CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageLowThld, the PCell is not
congested.
● If the CCE usage of the PCell of NSA DC is less than or equal to the effective
value of CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageHighThld and greater than the
effective value of CellDlschAlgo.DataSplitCceUsageLowThld, the congestion
status of the PCell is the same as that in the last second.
Table 4-5 describes the handling mechanisms based on the congestion status of
the PCell.
Table 4-5 Handling mechanisms based on the congestion status of the PCell
Scenario PCell Congested PCell Not Congested
● The user experience of this NSA UE deteriorates. If the number of NSA UEs in
the cell is very large, the Cell Downlink Average Throughput decreases.
● If the LTE SCC or NR SCG coverage or the air interface quality deteriorates,
the user experience of this NSA UE deteriorates significantly.
● The downlink retransmission rate and downlink scheduling delay increase for
the NSA UE but decrease for non-NSA UEs. Therefore, the downlink
retransmission rate and downlink packet delay of the cell change.
● More resources in the PCell are available to non-NSA non-CA UEs. If the
proportion of small-packet services is high, the number of scheduling times in
the PCell increases and accordingly the CCE usage in the PCell increases.
NOTE
● After NSA UE data split based on CCE usage takes effect, the L.CA.Traffic.bits.DL.PCell
counter value of the PCell may decrease if some NSA UEs in the PCell have multiple
carriers on the LTE side.
● Assume that the CCE_USAGE_BASED_SPLIT_OPT_SW option of the
CellAlgoExtSwitch.DlSchEnhSwitch parameter is selected, and an NSA UE has only one
carrier on the LTE side and its downlink data is distributed only to the NR side. Then,
data-volume-based LTE SCC addition and NSA PCC anchoring cannot be triggered as the
data volume is insufficient.
When an NSA UE with a specific SPID accesses or is handed over to the network,
the uplink primary path and uplink data split threshold for the NSA UE are
specified by the parameters listed in Table 4-6.
The maximum transmit power for initial power control is configured as follows:
After an NSA UE accesses the network, a maximum transmit power is configured for the UE
on the NR side. The total power of uplink channels at the same time cannot exceed the
maximum transmit power. For details about power control on each channel, see Power
Control in 5G RAN feature documentation.
NOTE
Basic Principles
UEs with the same radio signal characteristics can be classified into a category
based on multi-dimensional measurements. The eNodeB considers the UEs with
the same RSRP measurement result on a frequency to be in the same virtual grid.
For example, if UE 1's measurement result on a frequency is [(Cell 1, RSRP 1),
(Cell 2, RSRP 2), ...] and UE 2's measurement result is the same, the eNodeB
considers the two UEs to be in the same virtual grid. The eNodeB uses machine
learning technology with virtual grids as features to construct a signal
characteristics mapping from all virtual grids in a cell to a frequency. This mapping
is contained in an entity called virtual grid model.
The eNodeB supports the building of LNR virtual grid models (only RSRP
prediction models) in NSA DC. After obtaining the virtual grid information of
a UE in an LTE cell, the eNodeB can query the RSRP prediction model for a
Figure 4-7 Process for building and updating virtual grid models
1. The eNodeB determines the scope of LNR RSRP prediction models and uses
the format of [LTE cell, Neighboring NR frequency] to indicate the scope.
Virtual grid models are not built for the following cells:
– Cells with the Cell.MultiRruCellFlag parameter set to BOOLEAN_TRUE
– Cells with high speed mobility enabled
– Cells with ultra high speed mobility enabled
– eMTC-only cells
– FDD cells with a cell radius greater than 100 km
– FDD NB-IoT cells
– Cells with the Cell.WorkMode parameter set to DL_ONLY or LAA
LTE and LNR virtual grid models share the same model specifications and are built
based on the feature activation sequence.
The virtual grid model specifications are as follows:
If an eNodeB serves S cells and each cell has N neighboring NR frequencies, a
total of S x N LNR RSRP prediction models are required.
– The eNodeB equipped with a UMPTga supports 90 LNR RSRP prediction
models if the AI_ENHANCEMENT_SWITCH or
AI_ENHANCEMENT_OPT_SWITCH option of the
eNodeBResModeAlgo.ServiceMode parameter is selected; otherwise, the
eNodeB supports 36 models.
– When equipped with a UMPTe:
Uplink and downlink NR data volumes are reported on a per bearer basis. The
base station measures the number of bytes in SDU packets to calculate the air-
interface data volumes distributed to the NR side. It then reports the volumes
through the Secondary RAT Usage Report List IE in a Secondary RAT Data Usage
Report message or another message, as shown in Figure 4-8.
● In Option 3, the data split anchor is on the MeNB. Therefore, the MeNB
directly measures the data volumes distributed to the NR side and does not
require data volume reporting by the SgNB over the X2 interface. Then, the
MeNB directly reports the volumes to the MME on the core network.
● In Option 3x, the SgNB measures the air interface data volume distributed to
the NR side and notifies the MeNB through an X2 interface message. If the
LTE parameter NsaDcMgmtConfig.NrDataVolumeRptCfg is not set to 0, the
LTE side will report the NR data volumes notified by the NR side to the core
network.
Both the SgNB and MeNB support event-triggered NR data volume reporting and
periodic NR data volume reporting.
NOTE
The internal timer of the eNodeB or gNodeB has a deviation of one period, and therefore
the time for the SgNB or MeNB to report the NR data volume possibly has a deviation.
● In Option 3, the NsaDcMgmtConfig.NrDataVolumeRptCfg parameter on the
LTE side specifies whether NR data volumes are reported to the core network
based on events or at intervals.
– Event-triggered NR data volume reporting
NOTE
In Option 3x, the NR data volume reporting functions on the LTE and NR sides must
be both disabled or enabled. The following situations must be avoided:
● This function is enabled on the NR side but disabled on the LTE side. In this case,
the gNodeB sends data volume information to the eNodeB, but the eNodeB cannot
process the data volume information.
● This function is disabled on the NR side but enabled on the LTE side. In this case,
when an inter-gNodeB handover is performed, the eNodeB starts a timer to wait
for NR data volume reporting but the gNodeB does not report the information.
However, in the 0.5s waiting period, the bearer path is not switched to the target
SgNB, and therefore the UE has no data volume on the target SgNB side. After the
timer expires, a bearer path change is triggered. NSA PCC anchoring cannot be
triggered when an RRC connection is reestablished on the LTE side.
If the UE has multiple E-RABs that use different data split bearers (MCG split bearer or
SCG split bearer), NR data volumes are reported on a per bearer basis according to the
methods specified in Option 3 and Option 3x, respectively.
During inter-SgNB PSCell change or SgNB release, the gNodeB directly deletes the
SRB3 configurations.
NOTE
This feature requires time synchronization between the eNodeB and the gNodeB, with a
relative frame offset of 0 ms.
This feature requires that the NR cell parameter NRDUCellPrach.PrachConfigurationIndex
be set only to 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, or 21.
With this feature, the network side selects a TDM pattern from Figure 4-10 and
Figure 4-11, and sends it to the UE. Based on the pattern, the UE performs uplink
single-side transmission in the time domain where LTE and NR subframes are
staggered in each TTI.
● For sparse packets, the NSA uplink preallocation switch does not need to be turned on if
the following conditions are met: (1) uplink and downlink data is transmitted only on
the MCG side in Option 3 or only on the SCG side in Option 3x; (2) fallback to LTE and
uplink data transmission path selection are not enabled.
● For common packets, the NSA uplink preallocation switch does not need to be turned
on if the following conditions are met: (1) uplink and downlink data is transmitted only
on the MCG or SCG side, or downlink data is dynamically distributed and uplink data is
transmitted on the data split anchor side; (2) fallback to LTE and uplink data
transmission path selection are not enabled.
For details about uplink smart preallocation on the LTE side, see Uplink Scheduling
in eRAN feature documentation. For details about uplink preallocation on the NR
side, see Uplink Scheduling in 5G RAN feature documentation.
Table 4-8 lists the settings of the UE count threshold for NSA preallocation on the
LTE side and the NSA uplink preallocation switch and their results.
Table 4-8 Settings of the UE count threshold for NSA preallocation and the NSA
uplink preallocation switch and their results
UE Count Threshold for NSA Uplink Result
NSA Preallocation Preallocation
(NsaDcMgmtConfig.Nsa Switch
DcUePreUserCntThld) (NSA_DC_PREALL
OCATION_SW
option of
NsaDcMgmtConfi
g.NsaDcAlgoSwit
ch)
Not 0 On NSA uplink preallocation takes
effect. The number of UEs for
which the function takes effect
is limited by the
NsaDcMgmtConfig.NsaDcUeP
reUserCntThld parameter
setting.
The UE does not report the Supports intra-band EN-DC with only
intraBandENDC-Support IE. contiguous spectrum.
When intra-band EN-DC is required, the eNodeB and the gNodeB determine
whether intra-band LTE and NR frequencies conflict with each other based on NSA
UE capabilities and base station configurations. The LnrFreqRelationship MO is
used to specify whether an LTE frequency and an NR frequency are intra-band
contiguous or intra-band non-contiguous. In addition, the
NSA_FREQ_CONFLICT_AVOID_SW option of the
gNodeBParam.NsaDcOptSwitch parameter on the NR side needs to be selected.
If intra-band LTE and NR frequencies conflict with each other, the eNodeB and the
gNodeB perform the following processing:
● eNodeB
– The eNodeB does not deliver measurement configurations for an NR
frequency that cannot coexist with the NSA anchor and does not add any
NR cell on this frequency as a PSCell.
– If the eNodeB detects that an LTE SCell cannot coexist with the added NR
SCG, it will remove the LTE SCell and will not deliver measurement
configurations for the frequency of this LTE SCell.
– If the target LTE cell for an inter-frequency handover conflicts with the
PSCell in the NR SCG, the eNodeB performs a handover with an SgNB
change.
● gNodeB
– The gNodeB does not add an NR cell that cannot coexist with the NSA
anchor as an SCell.
– The gNodeB does not select an NR cell that cannot coexist with the NSA
anchor as the target cell for an inter-frequency handover.
– If an NR SCell cannot coexist with the target cell for an LTE inter-
frequency handover, the gNodeB removes this SCell.
NOTE
NOTE
● If the frequency configured for an LTE cell is a multi-band frequency, this LTE frequency
is considered to conflict with an NR frequency if the OVERLAPPED option is selected for
the relationship between the primary or secondary frequency and the NR frequency. In
this case, the previous processing method is performed.
● It is recommended that the NR_SCG_BW_CHECK_OPT_SW option of the
NsaDcAlgoParam.NsaDcAlgoSwitch parameter be selected. If the UE capability
information does not include the channelBWs-UL or channelBWs-DL IE that specifies
the NR bandwidths supported by a UE, the eNodeB considers that the UE supports
bandwidths supported by each NR frequency band defined in section 5.3.5 in 3GPP TS
38.101-1 V15.7.0 and 3GPP TS 38.101-2 V15.7.0 by default when evaluating the NR cell
bandwidth during an NR SCG addition. In addition, if the NR cell bandwidth is 30 MHz
or 70 MHz, an NR SCG addition can be performed only when the UE supports the 30
MHz or 70 MHz bandwidth, respectively.
band non-contiguous EN-DC using the configured LTE frequency and the NR
frequency with specified NR bandwidth 2, set the
UeCompat.LnrFreqRelpWhitelist parameter to configure a function whitelist for
the UE and then associate this whitelist with the LnrFreqRelationship MO. That
is, set FREQ_RELATIONSHIP_ID_N of the UeCompat.LnrFreqRelpWhitelist
parameter to ON, where N is equal to the value of
LnrFreqRelationship.RelationshipId. In this way, the relationship between LTE
and NR frequencies is configured to take effect only for a certain type of NSA UE.
The gNodeB determines whether the UE supports each LTE-NR frequency
relationship configured on the eNodeB. The processing method is the same as
above.
Intra-band EN-DC requires that LTE and NR cells be deployed on the same site,
according to 3GPP TS38.201 V16.1.0.
On the LTE side, co-site intra-band combinations such as the NSA DC combination
of B3 and N3 can be configured when the CO_DEPLOYMENT_NSA_FLAG option
of the NrScgFreqConfig.AggregationAttribute parameter is selected. Co-site cell
pairs can be configured when the CO_DEPLOYMENT_NSA_FLAG option of the
NrNRelationship.AggregationAttribute parameter is selected.
If the LTE anchor cell frequency belongs to a band (for example, B3) in a co-site
intra-band combination, then:
● During an SCG addition by the MeNB, co-site cell filtering is performed based
on the measurement result and blind SCG addition procedure.
● During an intra-MeNB handover, an SgNB Modification Request message is
sent. Co-site cells are selected from the neighboring NR cells reported along
with LTE cell measurement results or from the blind-configurable neighboring
NR cells. (When the NsaDcLteMeasCtrlwithNbrMeasSw option of the
GlobalProcSwitch.ProtocolSupportSwitch parameter is selected, the MeNB
includes a reportAddNeighMeas IE in delivered LTE measurement
configurations and the NSA UE reports neighboring NR cell measurement
results along with LTE cell measurement results.) If there are qualified
neighboring NR cells, the SgNB side is notified and determines whether to
trigger an intra-SgNB cell change. If there are no qualified neighboring NR
cells and the source SgNB cell and the target MeNB cell are in the same co-
site intra-band combination but not in the same cell pair, the SCG is released.
● During an inter-MeNB handover, a Handover Request message is sent. If the
target MeNB cell and the source SgNB cell are not in the same cell pair, a
handover with an SgNB change is performed and the target MeNB
determines whether to add an SCG.
On the NR side, co-site cells need to be selected when the following conditions are
met: (1) an intra-frequency or inter-frequency cell change is required on the NR
side; (2) the frequency band (for example, band 3) of the LTE anchor cell belongs
to a co-site intra-band combination; (3) the SgNB receives a measurement report
from the UE. Co-site cells are selected from measurement cells based on the co-
site intra-band combinations and co-site cell pairs configured on the NR side.
On the NR side, co-site intra-band combinations can be configured when the
CO_DEPLOYMENT_NSA_FLAG option of the
gNBDedNsaDcBandComb.AggregationAttribute parameter is selected. Co-site
cell pairs can be configured when the CO_DEPLOYMENT_NSA_FLAG option of the
gNBNrLteCellComb.AggregationAttribute parameter is selected.
A reported cell is filtered out if its frequency is in the NR band (for example, N3)
of a co-site intra-band combination but it is not in a co-site cell pair.
NOTE
PrivateBand.PrivateCaCombId 0
PrivateBand.CombBandIndex 1
PrivateBand.CombBandId 3
PrivateBand.BandType LTE
PrivateBand.PrivateCaCombId 0
PrivateBand.CombBandIndex 2
PrivateBand.CombBandId 20
PrivateBand.BandType LTE
PrivateBand.PrivateCaCombId 0
PrivateBand.CombBandIndex 3
PrivateBand.CombBandId 41
PrivateBand.BandType NR
NOTE
● The preceding function can be enabled only when time synchronization is achieved on
both LTE and NR sides.
● Uplink scheduling avoidance is not performed in the LTE cell if the SRS antenna
switching period in the NR cell exceeds 10 ms. Downlink scheduling avoidance is not
performed in the LTE cell if the SRS antenna switching period in the NR cell exceeds 40
ms.
When the function is enabled on both sides and an NSA UE triggers a CGI
measurement on the NR side, the related procedure is as follows:
1. The gNodeB sends an SgNB Modification Required message to the eNodeB
over the X2 interface. This message contains the measurement configuration
with the measurement report type of "reportCGI", and the DRX parameters of
the UE for CGI measurement on the NR side.
2. If the UE is not performing VoIP services (QCI = 1/65/66) on the LTE side, the
eNodeB uses the DRX parameters sent from the gNodeB to trigger LTE DRX in
ANR scenarios.
3. The UE reads SIB1 of the corresponding cells based on the measurement
configuration and sends a measurement report containing the CGI-Info to the
gNodeB.
4. After receiving the measurement report containing the CGI information, the
gNodeB deletes the CGI measurement configuration and instructs the eNodeB
to cancel the CGI measurement.
5. After receiving the CGI measurement cancellation notification, the eNodeB
stops LTE DRX in ANR scenarios.
4.2.1 Benefits
● Overall throughput of the entire network
NSA DC does not directly affect network capacity. However, if the resources of
the network have not been used up, NSA DC can increase the resource
efficiency and throughput of the network.
● NSA UE throughput
If the resources of the network have not been used up, NSA DC can increase
the throughput of UEs.
● Overall PRB usage for the network
Most UE services on commercial networks are burst services, and there is a
very low probability that PRBs in all the CCs of a UE are used up
simultaneously. When NSA DC is enabled, loads can be balanced rapidly using
data split policies and scheduling, effectively utilizing idle resources on the
network and increasing the overall PRB usage of the network.
● Downlink real-time data split
In NR FDD scenarios, this function can fully utilize the air interface
transmission capabilities of LTE and NR to improve user experience of NSA
UEs.
● Uplink preallocation
This function increases the number of times the base station proactively
schedules UEs in NSA scenarios, shortens the duration of uplink data packet
buffering on the NSA UE, accelerates the response to UE services, and
improves user experience.
● Uplink fallback to LTE
After this function takes effect, the uplink data transmission of cell edge users
(CEUs) in the NR cell is switched to the LTE network, increasing the uplink
user-perceived rate of these UEs.
● Fast retransmission for downlink data split
This function reduces the impact of data overstock due to single-side rate
drop on the TCP sliding window and increases UE throughput.
● PSCell addition based on virtual grid models
For UEs in an area without NR coverage, this function reduces invalid gap-
assisted measurements for periodic SCG addition based on measurement. For
UEs moving from an area without NR coverage to an area with NR coverage,
this function can quickly detect NR coverage and add SCGs, increasing the 5G
online duration of these UEs.
● Uplink CA in EN-DC
This function allows an NSA UE to be configured with both an NR SCG and
LTE uplink CA, improving uplink experience of the UE at the cell center or at a
medium distance from the cell center.
● Preferential selection of a band combination with only one NR carrier for NSA
UEs
This function increases the throughput of NSA UEs when NR CA cannot be
performed.
● Differentiated SCG addition and deletion threshold configuration for NR CA-
capable UEs
This function allows differentiated configuration of NR FDD SCG addition and
deletion thresholds for NSA UEs that support NR FDD+TDD CA, increasing the
downlink user-perceived rate of these UEs.
4.2.2 Impacts
Network Impacts
● If a UE is configured with NSA DC, the UE has one RRC connection with the
MeNB and another RRC connection with the SgNB.
● NSA DC performance factor = NSA DC rate / (LTE_ONLY rate + NR_ONLY
rate). The greater the NSA DC performance factor, the better the performance
of data split in NSA DC. When the delay on the X2 interface increases, the
NSA DC performance factor decreases. In the preceding formula, LTE_ONLY
indicates that services are carried only on the LTE network; NR_ONLY
indicates that services are carried only on the NR network; NSA DC indicates
that services are carried on both the LTE and NR networks.
● In scenarios with a smaller LTE bandwidth and a higher load or with a larger
NR bandwidth and a lower load, it is more likely that the NSA DC rate is less
than the NR_ONLY rate.
● If frequency synchronization is configured on the LTE side, some downlink
data on the NR side may be discarded because gap-assisted measurement
positions may not be aligned between LTE and NR. As a result, the downlink
throughput on the NR side decreases.
● Assume that the UE power saving function is triggered after an NSA UE
reports an SCGFailureInformationNR message in which the failureType-r15 IE
is set to t310-Expiry and the first ARFCN-ValueNR-r15 IE and first pci-r15 IE in
the measResultFreqListNR IE are both set to 0. Then, if the
SCG_REL_MEAS_OPT_SW option of the
EnodebCounterParaGrp.EnodebCounterAlgoSwitch parameter is selected
and the eNodeB releases the SCG after receiving that message, the release is
counted as a normal release. The L.NsaDc.MenbTrig.SgNB.NormRel counter
value will increase and the KPIs calculated based on this counter will also
change.
● After the function of SCG release and addition based on UE overheating
status reporting takes effect, the values of SgNB-release-related counters on
the LTE side will increase. Such counters include
L.NsaDc.MenbTrig.SgNB.Rel.UeException, L.NsaDc.SgNB.Rmv.Att, and
L.NsaDc.MenbTrig.SgNB.NormRel. The KPIs calculated based on the
preceding counters may also change.
● After downlink real-time data split takes effect in Option 3x, the data volume
on the LTE and NR sides changes, and the values of user-plane performance
indicators, such as the average MCS index, BLER, load, and average user-
perceived rate, may also change.
After downlink real-time data split takes effect in NR FDD scenarios where
UEs are evenly distributed, the data volume distributed from the NR PDCP to
the LTE side increases, that is, the value of the N.PDCP.Vol.DL.X2U.TrfPDU.Tx
counter increases.
– On the LTE side, there are increases in the downlink cell data volume, cell
throughput, PRB usage, and average MCS index.
– On the NR side, there are decreases in the downlink cell data volume, cell
throughput, PRB usage, and average MCS index.
● After downlink real-time data split, downlink dynamic data split stop, or fast
retransmission for downlink data split takes effect, there may be no new
Function Impacts
RAT Function Function Reference Description
Name Switch
SRAN LTE key event LTE_BIG_EVE LTE FDD and If LTE key event
assurance NT_ASSURA NR Dynamic assurance is enabled,
NCE_SW Spectrum uplink fallback to LTE
option of the Sharing does not take effect.
LteNrSpctShr
CellGrp.LteNr
SpctShrSwitc
h parameter
SRAN DSS and NR ● LTE: LTE FDD and After refarming from
Flexible DSS_FLEX_ NR Dynamic spectrum sharing to
Refarming REFARM_S Spectrum NR, the number of
W option Sharing LTE frequencies
of the decreases by one and
Spectrum therefore the number
Cloud.Spe of NSA UEs may
ctrumClou decrease.
dEnhSwitc
h
parameter
● NR:
DSS_FLEX_
REFARM_S
W option
of the
NRDUCell
AlgoSwitc
h.Spectru
mCloudEn
hSwitch
parameter
4.3 Requirements
4.3.1 Licenses
There are no license requirements for basic functions.
If a UE is configured with NSA DC, the UE has one RRC connection with the MeNB
and another RRC connection with the SgNB. Therefore, both LTE and NR sides
require an RRC Connected User license unit. The licensing principle for the number
of RRC_CONNECTED UEs on the LTE side in NSA networking is the same as that in
LTE-only scenarios. For details, see License Management in eRAN feature
documentation. For the licensing principle for the number of RRC_CONNECTED
UEs on the NR side, see License Management in 5G RAN feature documentation.
In Option 3, the eNodeB receives more data because of EN-DC data split.
Therefore, you need to apply for a license for eNodeB traffic on the LTE side. For
details, see License Management in eRAN feature documentation.
4.3.2 Software
Before activating this function, ensure that its prerequisite functions have been
activated and mutually exclusive functions have been deactivated, if there are any.
For detailed operations, see the relevant feature documents.
Prerequisite Functions
RAT Function Function Reference Description
Name Switch
LTE High speed Cell.HighSpe High Speed Virtual grids are not
mobility edFlag Mobility in built for high-speed
eRAN feature cells.
documentatio
n
4.3.3 Hardware
Base Station Models
On the LTE side, the compatible base stations are as follows:
● 3900 and 5900 series base stations (macro base stations). 5900 series base
stations must be configured with the BBU5900, BBU5910, or BBU5900A.
● DBS3900 LampSite and DBS5900 LampSite
On the NR side, the compatible base stations are as follows:
● 3900 and 5900 series base stations (macro base stations). 3900 series base
stations must be configured with the BBU3910, and 5900 series base stations
must be configured with the BBU5900, BBU5910, or BBU5900A.
● DBS3900 LampSite and DBS5900 LampSite. DBS3900 LampSite must be
configured with the BBU3910.
Boards
The compatible boards are listed below.
RAT Board Type Board Name Option 3 Option 3x
NOTE
LNR virtual grid model building requires that the main control board of the eNodeB be
UMPTe, UMPTga, or UMPTg series.
RF Modules
This function does not depend on RF modules.
4.3.4 Networking
The following describes the networking scenarios and interconnection modes
supported by NSA DC.
● In co-site co-BBU or separate-BBU scenarios, the LTE and NR base stations in
NSA networking support CI interconnection, intra-BBU backplane
interconnection, and IP transmission interconnection. Different transmission
paths can be selected for LTE-NR user-plane data in different networking
scenarios, including IP transmission interconnection, CI interconnection, intra-
BBU backplane interconnection.
NOTE
4.3.5 Others
● UE requirements
– The UE must support NSA DC specified in 3GPP Release 15.
– The UE must have subscribed to LTE and NR services.
– The UE must match the gNodeB and eNodeB versions.
– TDM-based intermodulation interference avoidance, uplink power
control, and uplink single-side transmission require the UE to support
TDM.
– Uplink dynamic data split requires the support from the UE.
● EPC requirements
– The EPC must be CloudEPC to support Option 3 and Option 3x.
– The EPC must support NSA DC. If the core network is provided by
Huawei, see WSFD-021101 5G NSA (Opt.3) Dual Connectivity
Management for details.
– If NSA DC is enabled on an eNodeB, the connected MMEs need to
support NSA DC. If a connected MME does not support NSA DC, the
MmeCapInfo.MmeNsaDcCapability parameter for this MME must be set
to NOT_SUPPORT.
● Clock requirements
TDM requires time synchronization between LTE FDD and NR.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the PccFreqCfg
MO on the LTE side to configure PCC frequencies (or anchor frequencies).
NOTE
This MO and the anchoring priority do not need to be configured for non-anchor
frequencies.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrScgFreqConfig MO on the LTE side to configure the association between the
PCC and SCG frequencies.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrExternalCell MO on the LTE side to configure external NR cells.
NOTE
The frequency bands and additional frequency bands configured for external NR cells on
the LTE side must be the same as those configured for the corresponding NR cells on the
NR side.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the NrNFreq MO
on the LTE side to configure neighboring NR frequencies.
According to section 5.4.2.3 "Channel raster entries for each operating band" in
3GPP TS 38.104 V17.9.0, a frequency may belong to multiple NR frequency bands.
For such a frequency, a band needs to be configured on the eNodeB side. For
example, a neighboring NR frequency whose NR-ARFCN is in the range of
422000–434000 belongs to bands n1 and n66. The NrMfbiFreq MO on the
eNodeB side must be set based on the NR network plan, with this NR frequency
configured in band n1 or n66.
If a frequency does not belong to multiple NR frequency bands, the NR MFBI
parameters do not need to be set.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrNRelationship MO on the LTE side to configure neighboring NR cells.
NOTE
NR cells with the same NR-ARFCN and PCI cannot be configured as neighboring cells of the
same LTE cell.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcAlgoParam MO on the LTE side to configure the gap offset allocation
optimization switch.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side to configure periodic SCG addition based
on data volume.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
EnodebAlgoExtSwitch and UeCompat MOs on the LTE side to configure the
preferential selection of a band combination with only one NR carrier for NSA UEs
function.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcAlgoParam and NrScgFreqConfig MOs on the LTE side to configure
differentiated SCG addition threshold configuration for NR CA-capable UEs.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NRCellNsaDcConfig MO on the NR side to configure differentiated SCG deletion
threshold configuration for NR CA-capable UEs.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the CellQciPara
MO on the LTE side and the gNBPdcpParamGroup MO on the NR side to
configure downlink data split policies.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side and the NRCellNsaDcConfig and
gNBPdcpParamGroup MOs on the NR side to support downlink real-time data
split in Option 3x.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcAlgoParam and NsaDcMgmtConfig MOs on the LTE side and the
NRCellNsaDcConfig MO on the NR side to enable downlink data split to be
resumed adaptively in Option 3.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side and the NRCellNsaDcConfig and
gNodeBParam MOs on the NR side to enable downlink data split to be resumed
adaptively in Option 3x.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcQciParamGroup MO on the LTE side and the gNBPdcpParamGroup MO on
the NR side to configure uplink data split modes.
NOTE
When uplink data is transmitted over the X2 link and packet loss occurs on the X2 link, the
transmission rate of TCP services decreases. If the packet loss rate over the X2 link (the
proportion of the number of lost packets to the total number of packets in a certain period
over the X2 link) is greater than 0.0001%, it is recommended that the uplink data split
mode be set to MCG_ONLY in the Option 3 architecture and be set to SCG_ONLY in the
Option 3x architecture.
If the UE supports shortSN and the PDCP sequence numbers configured on the
LTE and NR sides are different, dedicated bearers with the same QCI fail to be set
up on the LTE and NR sides, and the default bearer will be released. It is
recommended that the PDCP sequence numbers be set to the same value on the
LTE and NR sides. For details about the shortSN, see section 4.2.4 "PDCP
Parameters" in 3GPP TS 38.306 V15.5.0.
The NSA DC feature splits data at the PDCP layer. It is recommended that the
PDCP SN size be set to 18 bits on both the LTE and NR sides to avoid data
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side to configure initial power control in NSA
DC.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side and the NRDUCellAlgoSwitch MO on
the NR side to configure interference avoidance.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NRCellNsaDcConfig MO on the NR side to specify the NR data volume reporting
policy in Option 3x.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side to specify whether to broadcast the
upperLayerIndication IE in SIB2.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the CnOperator
MO on the LTE side to specify whether to broadcast the serving PLMN
upperLayerIndication IE in SIB2.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NRCellQciBearer MO on the NR side to add the AM or UM PDCP parameter
group ID for the corresponding QCI.
The following table describes the parameters that must set in the
gNBPdcpParamGroup MO on the NR side to specify the PDCP parameter group
ID.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
RlcPdcpParaGroup MO on the LTE side to allow SCG split bearer setup for GBR
services.
NOTE
In Option 3x, uplink or downlink data of GBR services can be transmitted only on the SCG
side.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrExternalCell MO on the LTE side to configure the external NR cell networking
mode in NSA and SA hybrid networking.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side to configure an adaptive PSCell
management policy for VoLTE UEs.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcAlgoParam MO on the LTE side to specify the maximum X2 transmission
rate for PDCP packets in Option 3.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
gNodeBParam MO on the NR side to configure the maximum X2 transmission
rate for PDCP packets when LTE-NR user-plane data is transmitted in Option 3x.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
gNodeBParam MO on the NR side to configure the maximum X2 transmission
rate for PDCP packets when user-plane data is transmitted through the backplane
or cascading interface (CI) in Option 3x scenarios where LTE and NR are co-sited.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
gNodeBParam MO on the NR side to configure fast retransmission for downlink
data split.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrScgFreqConfig MO on the LTE side and the gNBDedNsaDcBandComb and
NRCellNsaDcConfig MOs on the NR side to configure uplink single-side
transmission frequency band combinations.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side to configure NSA uplink preallocation in
Option 3.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcMgmtConfig MO on the LTE side and the NRCellNsaDcConfig MO on the
NR side to configure NSA uplink preallocation in Option 3x.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrScgFreqConfig MO on the LTE side to configure an LTE+NR intra-band
combination.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NrNRelationship MO on the LTE side to configure a co-site intra-band pair of LTE
and NR cells.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
gNBDedNsaDcBandComb MO on the NR side to configure an LTE+NR intra-band
combination.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
gNBNrLteCellComb MO on the NR side to configure the CGIs of a co-site intra-
band pair of LTE and NR cells.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NRCellNsaDcConfig and NRCellNsaDcConfigGrp MOs on the NR side to
configure SgNB release based on RSRP or SSB SINR.
NOTE
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
EnodebAlgoExtSwitch and gNodeBParam MOs for the MeNB to filter out
neighboring NR cells under any SgNB whose S1-U interface is unavailable in
Option 3x.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
EnodebAlgoExtSwitch and NrExternalCell MOs on the LTE side and the
gNodeBParam MO on the NR side to configure SCG addition when LTE and NR
belong to different PLMNs.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
NsaDcAlgoParam and RrcConnStateTimer MOs on the LTE side to configure SCG
release and addition based on UE overheating status reporting.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
eNodeBResModeAlgo MO on the LTE side to set the service mode for the eNodeB
resource allocation algorithms.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
LnrCarrierSelection MO on the LTE side to configure functions related to NSA DC
virtual grid model building.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the
LnrCarrierSelection MO on the LTE side to configure PSCell addition based on
virtual grid models.
The following tables describe the parameters that must be set in the
LnrFreqRelationship, UeCompat, PrivateCaBandComb, and PrivateBand MOs
on the LTE side and the gNodeBParam MO on the NR side to configure the EN-
DC band combination blacklist function, prohibiting an EN-DC band combination
from being used or prohibiting a certain LTE frequency in any EN-DC band
combination that includes a certain NR frequency from serving as an LTE SCC.
● Prohibiting the use of an EN-DC band combination
Parameter Parameter ID Setting Notes
Name
The following table describes the parameters that must be set in the UeCompat
and NrScgFreqConfig MOs on the LTE side to configure RRC connection
reestablishment optimization for defective NSA UEs.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set to configure
preferred path adaption in downlink data split in Option 3.
Parameter Parameter ID Setting Notes
Name
The following table describes the parameters that must be set to configure
preferred path adaption in downlink data split in Option 3x.
Parameter Parameter ID Setting Notes
Name
The following table describes the parameters that must be set to configure NSA
downlink data split optimization in DRX scenarios.
Parameter Parameter ID Setting Notes
Name
The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the NR side for
SPID-based NSA uplink primary path configuration.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set for SPID-based SCG
frequency priority configuration on the LTE side.
The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the LTE side to
control operator-specific SCG frequency priority configuration.
Parameter Parameter ID Setting Notes
Name
The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the LTE side to
configure uplink CA in EN-DC.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the
LTE side to configure SPID-specific NSA PCC anchoring and PSCell management
policies.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the
LTE side to configure QCI-specific NSA PCC anchoring and PSCell management
policies.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set on the
LTE side to configure NR FR2 frequency measurement in polling mode in NSA
mmWave networking.
(Optional) The following table describes the parameters that must be set to
configure blacklist control for SCC management in NSA networking on the LTE
side if there are abnormal UEs for which SCCs cannot be added together with
SCGs.
Monitoring Counters
Counters related to NSA DC can be subscribed on the MAE-Access in one-click
mode.
● After activating NSA DC, observe the counters listed in the following tables.
On a network with NSA UEs, NSA DC has taken effect only if the following
counters produce non-zero values.
Message Tracing
1. Log in to the MAE-Access. Choose Monitor > Signaling Trace > Signaling
Trace Management. The Signaling Trace Management window is displayed.
2. Trace UE random access.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > Uu Interface Trace. You can
observe that the UE sends an RRC_CONN_SETUP_CMP message to the
eNodeB to initiate an LTE access procedure.
3. (Optional) The eNodeB delivers an NR measurement configuration message
to the UE.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > Uu Interface Trace. You can
observe that the eNodeB sends an RRC_CONN_RECFG message to the UE,
which contains the EventB1 IE.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > Uu Interface Trace. You can
observe that the UE sends an RRC_MEAS_RPRT message, which contains IEs
related to the measured PCIs and signal strength of NR cells.
NOTE
For LTE-NR joint tracing, joint tracing must be started before the UE accesses the
network.
8. (Optional) Check whether RLC rate optimization in downlink real-time data
split has taken effect.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > X2 Interface Trace. Check
whether the eNodeB sends an EN-DC Private Vendor Configuration Transfer
message with an eNB Cell Configuration Indication 1 IE whose bit 11 is set to
1, and whether the gNodeB sends the eNodeB an EN-DC Private Vendor
Configuration Transfer message with a gNB Cell Configuration Indication 1 IE
whose bit 9 is set to 1. If so, the function has taken effect.
9. (Optional) Check whether uplink fallback to LTE has taken effect.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > X2 Interface Trace. Check
whether the gNodeB sends the eNodeB an SgNB Modification Required
message with IEs SgNB to MeNB Container > CG-Config > scg-RB-Config >
drb-ToAddModList > pdcp-Config in which primaryPath is set to 0 (indicating
the MCG) and ul-DataSplitThreshold is set to infinity. If so, the function has
taken effect.
10. (Optional) Check whether the interference avoidance function has taken
effect.
Choose Trace Type > LTE > Application Layer > X2 Interface Trace. Check
whether the gNodeB sends the eNodeB an SgNB Addition Request
Acknowledge, SgNB Modification Request Acknowledge, or SgNB Modification
Required message with IEs SgNB Resource Coordination Information > UL
Coordination Information whose bits are not all zeros. If the bits are not all
zeros, the function has taken effect. If the bits are all zeros, the function has
not taken effect.
– Calculate the total downlink data split volume of NSA UEs by adding
L.Thpt.bits.DL.McgSplit.MeNB and L.Thpt.bits.DL.McgSplit.SgNB. If the
volume increases continuously, this feature is running properly.
– Calculate the total uplink data split volume of NSA UEs by adding
L.Thpt.bits.UL.McgSplit.MeNB and L.Thpt.bits.UL.McgSplit.SgNB. If the
volume increases continuously, this feature is running properly.
– Observe the values of the L.ChMeas.PRB.DL.NsaDc.Used.Avg and
L.ChMeas.PRB.UL.NsaDc.Used.Avg counters to determine the PRB usage
of NSA UEs on the LTE side.
– Observe the L.Thrp.bits.DL.NsaDc, L.Thrp.bits.DL.LastTTI.NsaDc, and
L.Thrp.Time.DL.RmvLastTTI.NsaDc counters to determine the downlink
throughput of NSA UEs on the LTE side.
– Observe the L.Thrp.bits.UL.NsaDc and L.Thrp.Time.UL.NsaDc counters
to determine the uplink throughput of NSA UEs on the LTE side.
– Observe the L.NsaDc.DRB.Add.Att and L.NsaDc.DRB.Add.Succ counters
to obtain the number of data split bearer setup attempts and the number
of successful data split bearer setups for NSA UEs, respectively.
NOTE
In NSA networking, counter reporting by PLMN is supported on the LTE side. For
details, see RAN Sharing in eRAN feature documentation.
● On the gNodeB side
– Observe the N.PDCP.Vol.DL.X2U.TrfPDU.Tx counter to obtain the total
downlink data volume split for NSA UEs over the X2 interface. If the
value of this counter increases continuously, this feature is working
properly.
– Observe the N.PDCP.Vol.UL.X2U.TrfPDU.Rx counter to obtain the total
uplink data volume split for NSA UEs over the X2 interface. If the value of
this counter increases continuously, this feature is working properly.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.InterSite.SgNB.Add.Att counter to obtain the
number of inter-site SgNB addition attempts in the LTE-NR NSA DC
scenario.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.InterSite.SgNB.Add.Succ counter to obtain the
number of successful inter-site SgNB additions in the LTE-NR NSA DC
scenario.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.SgNB.Add.Att.QCI counter to obtain the number
of SgNB addition attempts for a specific QCI in LTE-NR NSA DC scenarios.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.SgNB.Add.Succ.QCI counter to obtain the number
of successful SgNB additions for a specific QCI in LTE-NR NSA DC
scenarios.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.SgNB.Rel.QCI counter to obtain the total number
of SgNB releases for a specific QCI in LTE-NR NSA DC scenarios.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.SgNB.Rel.SgNBTrigger.QCI counter to obtain the
total number of SgNB releases triggered by SgNB for a specific QCI in
LTE-NR NSA DC scenarios.
– Observe the N.NsaDc.SgNB.Rel.MeNBTrigger.NormalRel.QCI counter to
obtain the total number of normal SgNB releases triggered by MeNB for
a specific QCI in LTE-NR NSA DC scenarios.
5 Parameters
NOTE
You can find the EXCEL files of parameter reference and used reserved parameter list for
the software version used on the live network from the product documentation delivered
with that version.
Step 2 On the Parameter List sheet, filter the Feature ID column. Click Text Filters and
choose Contains. Enter the feature ID.
Step 3 Click OK. All parameters related to the feature are displayed.
----End
Step 1 Open the EXCEL file of the used reserved parameter list.
Step 2 On the Used Reserved Parameter List sheet, use the MO, Parameter ID, and BIT
columns to locate the reserved parameter, which may be only a bit of a parameter.
View its information, including the meaning, values, impacts, and product version
in which it is activated for use.
----End
6 Counters
The following hyperlinked EXCEL files of performance counter reference match the
software version with which this document is released.
● Node Performance Counter Summary: contains device and transport counters.
● eNodeBFunction Performance Counter Summary: contains all counters related
to radio access functions, including air interface management, access control,
mobility control, and radio resource management.
● gNodeBFunction Performance Counter Summary: contains all counters related
to radio access functions, including air interface management, access control,
mobility control, and radio resource management.
NOTE
You can find the EXCEL files of performance counter reference for the software version used
on the live network from the product documentation delivered with that version.
----End
7 Glossary
8 Reference Documents
● 3GPP TS 38.101: "NR; User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception"
● 3GPP TS 37.340: "E-UTRA and NR; Multi-connectivity; Stage-2"
● 3GPP TS 36.331: "E-UTRA; Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol
specification"
● Transmission Resource Management in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Power Control in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Multi-Frequency Smart Aggregation in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Uplink Scheduling in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Downlink Scheduling in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Cell Combination in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Hyper Cell in 5G RAN feature documentation
● Carrier Aggregation in eRAN feature documentation
● Idle Mode Management in eRAN feature documentation
● Uplink Scheduling in eRAN feature documentation
● Downlink Scheduling in eRAN feature documentation
● QoS Management in eRAN feature documentation
● Breathing Pilot in eRAN feature documentation
● Air Interface Latency Optimization in eRAN feature documentation
● Low-Band Booster in eRAN feature documentation
● UL and DL Decoupling
● X2 and S1 Self-Management in NSA Networking
● NSA Mobility Management
● BBU Interconnection in 3900 & 5900 Series Base Station Product
Documentation